Functional analysis of putative adhesion factors in Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM.

ABSTRACT: Lactobacilli are major inhabitants of the normal microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, and some select species have been used extensively as probiotic cultures. One potentially important property of these organisms is their ability to interact with epithelial cells in the intestinal tract, which may promote retention and host-bacterial communication. However, the mechanisms by which they attach to intestinal epithelial cells are unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate cell surface proteins in Lactobacillus acidophilus that may promote attachment to intestinal tissues. Using genome sequence data, predicted open reading frames were searched against known protein and protein motif databases to identify four proteins potentially involved in adhesion to epithelial cells. Hom

SUBMITTER: Buck BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1317474 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature